Pick up clip device

ABSTRACT

A pick up clip device is disclosed which comprises frame means, a first spring clip carried by the frame means and adapted to removably grip a shaft for support of the clip device, and a second spring clip carried by the frame means and adapted to grip an object for pick up by the shaft.

United States Patent Schweitzer Nov. 25, 1975 15 PICK UP CLIP DEVICE 2,885,755 5/1959 Johnson 24/81 CL 3,318,628 5/1967 White {75] Inventor: {SW schwelize" Mllwaukee 3,452,955 7/1969 Hartwig 248/229 I73] Asslgnee: xfl 'g? gg:z Oak Creek Primary ExaminerEv0n C. Blunk p Assistant Examiner-Johnny D. Cherry [22] Filed: Aug. 9, 1971 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Andrus, Sceales, Starke & 21 Appl. N0.: 170,219 Sawa" Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser No. 841,459, July 14, [57] ABSTRACT 1969, abandoned.

A pick up clip device is disclosed which comprises [52] US. Cl 294/19 A frame means, a first spring clip carried by the frame [51] Int. Cl. A63B 47/02 means and adapted to removably grip a shaft for sup- [58] Field of Search 294/25, 19 A; 24/81 R, port of the clip device, and a second spring clip car- 24/81 CL, 81 CR; 248/226 E, 229; 273/162 E ried by the frame means and adapted to grip an object for pick up by the shaft. [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 Claim, 7 Drawing Figures 1,674,294 6/1928 ORourke 294/19 A U.S. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet 1 of2 3,922,026

7 0 INVENTOR. g- 3 BYJAMES c. SCHWEITZER Attorneys US Patent Nov.25, 1975 Sheet20f2 3,922,026

INVENTOR. JAMES C. SCHWEITZER Attorneys PICK UP CLIP DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 84l,459 filed July 14, 1969, now abandoned, and entitled Pick up Clip Device.

This invention relates to a pick up clip device as may be employed by golfers to pick up a ball or golf club or other objects.

In the course of a round of golf, it generally becomes necessary to stoop or bend over any number of times to pick up balls, golf clubs, flags, tees, divots, obstructing bits and debris and sundry other objects. For some persons the constant stooping and bending is arduous and detracts from the game. Though others do not find the constant stooping and bending to be arduous, they nevertheless would welcome elimination of some of the stooping and bending over. It is generally an object of this invention to provide a pick up clip device which may be utilized by golfers to pick up balls and golf clubs and the like and so make possible the elimination of some stooping and bending over to thereby enhance the enjoyment of the game.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, a pick up clip device is provided which is removably attachable to the shaft of a golf club or the like. The pick up clip device domprises frame means which carries a pair of spring clips. The first spring clip is adapted to be removably secured to a shaft for support of the clip device on the shaft. The second spring clip is adapted to engage and grip an object for pick up by the shaft.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES The drawings furnished herewith illustrate the best mode for carrying out the invention as presently contemplated and set forth hereinafter.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the clip device of this invention;

FIG. 2 is and enlarged end elevation of the clip device showing the same removably secured on a shaft and grasping a ball;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the clip device mounted on a shaft and supporting a ball;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view generally similar to that of FIG. 1 and shown a further embodiment wherein the clip device comprises a one-piece molded plastic unit;

FIG. 5 is a view generally similar to that of FIG. 2 and shows the plastic clip device holding a golf ball;

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view showing a further embodiment of plastic clip device; and

FIG. 7 is an elevational view showing a still further embodiment of plastic clip device as it grasps and picks up an end portion of a golf flag pole.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings, the pick up clip device 11 comprises a frame element 12 having legs 13 and 14 disposed generally normal to each other. The clip device 11 is removably attachable to the shaft 15 of a golf club or the like in a manner to be described hereinafter with the leg 13 disposed generally parallel to the axis 16 of the shaft and the leg 14 disposed over the end of the shaft and generally normal to the shaft axis.

The frame element leg 13 to generally parallel the axis 16 of shaft 15 carries a generally arcuate U-shaped spring clip 17 having opposed arms 18 and 19 disposed in a plane generally paralleling and spaced beneath the leg 14. The clip 17 is secured to the leg 13 by a rivet 20 or other suitable means intermediate the spring arms 18 and 19 which present the opening 21 for receiving the shaft 15 oppositely from the rivet attachment. The ends of arms 18 and 19 defining the opening 21 may be bent over inwardly as generally shown in FIG. 1 in a manner to avoid damage to shaft 15 by the edges at the extreme ends of the arms.

The frame element leg 14 intended to be dispdsed generally normal to the axis 16 of shaft 15 carries a generally U-shaped spring clip 22 having opposed spring arms 23 and 24 disposed generally symmetrical relative to a plane through the longitudinal centerlines of the respective legs of frame element 12. The opposed arms 23 and 24 are bowed or bulged outwardly intermediate their length and extend in a direction oppositely from frame element leg 13. The spring clip 22 is secured to the leg 14 by a rivet 25 or other suitable means intermediate the arms 23 and 24 which present the opening 26 oppositely from the rivet attachment. The ends of arms 23 and 24 may be bent or curled over outwardly generally as shown in the drawings to avoid damage to the ball or other object being picked up and to the immediate environs of such object.

If the pick up clip device 11 is fabricated from metal parts, the same may be coated with a suitable plastic material to provide a more desirable finish.

In service, the clip device 11 is removably secured on the end of shaft 15 with the shaft being received by the opening 21 between the opposed spring arms 18 and 19 and with the frame element leg 14 and its rivet 25 extending over and being seated on the end of the shaft. Secured on the shaft 15 in this manner, the spring clip 22 is in the position of an extension to the shaft and tends to be relatively stable.

When it is desired to pick up a ball 27 or other object, the shaft 15 with the clip device 11 in place is directed toward that object. With the ends of arms 23 and 24 of spring clip 22 disposed in contact with the object and generally symmetrically relative to the center or axis of the object, a firm axial push or thrust of the shaft 15 forces the arms 23 and 24 apart or more open to receive the object in the opening 26 where the same is retained by the spring pressure. Since the thrust of the shaft 15 to effect engagement with the object to be picked up is transmitted axially and directly to the spring clip 22 through the intermediate frame element leg 14 and rivet 25, the attachment of spring clip 17 to the shaft 15 should remain unaffected. After the ball 27 or other object has been grasped within the spring clip 22, the shaft 15 is manipulated to permit manual removal of such object from the clip device. The spring pressure of the respective spring clips 17 and 22 should at least be adequate to make it possible to engage and pick up a golf ball, and the handle end of a golf club from the ground. With such capability considerable stooping and bending over may be eliminated in the course of a round of golf to make the game that much more enjoyable to its devotees.

The clip device 11 can of course always be conveniently carried in ones golf bag. However, in view of its relatively small size and light weight, the clip device 11, if desired, is readily and more conveniently pocketed on ones person for immediate availability.'

The pick up clip device 28 of FIG. 4 is a one-piece molded plastic unit which may be fabricated by an injection molding process. The clip device 28 includes the frame angle member 29 having legs 30 and 31. As shown, the angle between the legs 30 and 31 may be somewhat less than a right angle such that when the leg 31 is seated generally flush on the end of the shaft of a golf club, the leg will generally follow the usual taper of the handle grip of the club. I

In the one-piece plastic construction of clip device 28, the frame leg 30 is integral with and merges with the back portion of the generally U-shaped handle gripping clip 32 which is spaced beneath and generally parallels the frame'leg, 31. The spring arms 33 and 34 of the clip 32 generally follow the inclination of frame leg 30 relative to leg 31 so that the clip 32 will also generally correspond to the taper of the handle grip on the club shaft 15 as perhaps best shown in FIG. 5. At the entrance to the opening 35 of clip 32, the respective arms 33 and 34 are provided with inwardly projecting rounded enlargements 36 which slide over and grasp the shaft 15 with minimum possible damage to the handle grip. The rounded enlargements 36 preclude leading edges and corners at the extreme ends of the spring arms 33 and 34 which likely would cause damage to the handle windings on a club shaft 15.

Similarly to frame leg 30 and its relation to clip 32, the frame leg 31 of the plastic clip device 28 is integral with and merges with the back portion of the generally U-shaped object grasping clip 37 which is disposed generally normal to the leg 31 and extends axially relative to the club shaft 15 in assembled relation on the shaft. The opposed spring arms 38 and 39 of clip 37 are disposed generally symmetrical relative to a plane through the longitudinal centerlines of the respective legs of frame member 29. The opposed arms 38 and 39 are bowed or bulged outwardly intermediate their length and are locally reinforced as at 41 to preclude unduly high stress concentration at the inner extent of the bulge. At the entrance to the opening the arms 38 and 39 terminate with outwardly projecting rounded enlargements 42 such as will avoid damage to a gold ball 27 or other object being picked up by the clip device 28 and to the immediate environs of such object. The opposed facing portions of the rounded enlargements 42 at the entrance to opening 40 are each provided with at least one groove 43 which generally parallels the direction of thrust for pick up. The grooves 43 serve to guide a ball 27 into the opening 40 during pick up and preclude a possible tendency for the ball to Either as an alternative to the groove 43 or by way of supplementing the grooves, the end portions of the op-, posed arms may be additionally bowed or bulged outwardly across their width or in the direction of frame leg 31. In FIG. 6, the pick up clip 44 is shown to have opposed arms 45 and 46 and corresponding rounded enlargements 47 which are bulged outwardly across their width to better guide a ball 27 into the opening 48 during pick up. To avoid possible damage to objects picked up by clip 44, the inner edges of arms 45 and 46 adjacent to the opening 48 may be rounded as shown.

The plastic clip device 28 of FIG. 7 is shown as being employed to pick up an end portion of a golf flag pole 49. In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the pick up clip 50 is shown to have arms 51 and 52 which generally taper in thickness over a substantial portion of their length in the direction of the rounded enlargements 42 at the entrance to the opening 53. The tapering character of the arms 51 and 52 of clip 50 eliminate the need for local reinforcement and provide a generally even distribution of stress in the arms upon flexure during pick up.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention:

I claim:

1. A one-piece molded plastic pick up clip device for removable attachment to the shaft of a golf club or the like, comprising a frame angle member having a pair of legs, the first leg of the frame angle member being adapted to extend along the side of a shaft with the second leg extending over and seating on the end of the. shaft, a first generally U-shaped spring clip carried by the first frame member leg and being spaced from and generally paralleling the second frame member leg and being adapted to grip a shaft from the side and thereby removably secure the clip device to the shaft with the second frame member leg seated on the end of the shaft, and a second generally U-shaped spring clip carried by the second frame member leg and extending in a direction generally opposite from the first frame member leg and having opposed arms disposed generally symmetrical relative to a plane through the longitudinal centerlines of the respective frame member legs and being adapted to grasp an object with axial thrust of the shaft upon which the pick up clip device is removably attached, said opposed arms having at least one groove at the entrance to the clip opening and which generally parallels the direction of thrust for pick up for guiding a golf ball into the clip. 

1. A one-piece molded plastic pick up clip device for removable attachment to the shaft of a golf club or the like, comprising a frame angle member having a pair of legs, the first leg of the frame angle member being adapted to extend along the side of a shaft with the second leg extending over and seating on the end of the shaft, a first generally U-shaped spring clip carried by the first frame member leg and being spaced from and generally paralleling the second frame member leg and being adapted to grip a shaft from the side and thereby removably secure the clip device to the shaft with the second frame member leg seated on the end of the shaft, and a second generally U-shaped spring clip carried by the second frame member leg and extending in a direction generally opposite from the first frame member leg and having opposed arms disposed generally symmetrical relative to a plane through the longitudinal centerlines of the respective frame member legs and being adapted to grasp an object with axial thrust of the shaft upon which the pick up clip device is removably attached, said opposed arms having at least one groove at the entrance to the clip opening and which generally parallels the direction of thrust for pick up for guiding a golf ball into the clip. 